Mathieu Debuchy told he can leave Arsenal after playing just 16 minutes

Arsenal's French defender Mathieu Debuchy controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League qualifying round play-off second-leg football match between Arsenal and Besiktas' at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 27, 2014
© Getty Images
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger tells Mathieu Debuchy that he is allowed to leave the club.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told Mathieu Debuchy that he can look for a new club after playing just 16 minutes of Premier League football this season.

Since joining the Gunners from Newcastle United in 2014, injuries have hampered the Frenchman's progress at the Emirates.

As a result, Hector Bellerin has emerged as first choice at right-back, therefore pushing Debuchy down the pecking order.

The 31-year-old, who spent half of last season on loan at Bordeaux, is due to return to training after recovering from a hamstring injury, but his long-term future at Arsenal is uncertain.

"I didn't close the door because there's a lot of competition on the right flank," The Mirror quotes Wenger as saying. "Now Gabriel has been convincing on the right side as well, so I don't close the door.

"What I just want to say is [Debuchy] is fully fit now and so he is available to play and maybe even to have an experience somewhere else."

In December, Wenger accused the right-back of lying when he claimed that Arsenal blocked a summer transfer for him.

The former Lille player also claimed that he and his manager had barely spoken for almost a year.

Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian midfielder Alex Teixeira (L) vies with Porto's forward Ricardo Pereira during the UEFA Champions League Group H football match on Decemnber 10, 2014
Read Next:
Arsenal considering bid for Porto defender?
>


Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea23191348153358
2Tottenham HotspurSpurs23138245162947
3Arsenal23145451252647
4Liverpool23136451282345
5Manchester CityMan City22134543281543
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd22118333211241
7Everton22106633231036
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom239683129233
9Stoke CityStoke227782834-628
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham2284102936-728
11Southampton2376102328-527
12Burnley2383122433-927
13Watford2376102739-1227
14Bournemouth2375113240-826
15Leicester CityLeicester2357112437-1322
16Middlesbrough2349101926-721
17Swansea CitySwansea2363142852-2421
18Crystal Palace2354143141-1019
19Sunderland2344152042-2216
20Hull City2244142047-2716
LIVE SCORES VIDEPRINTER
expand